Today, I'd like to introduce you to Valentine Manceau, a petite 1m52, committed illustrator under the name of "
Miss Valentine ". Join us as we explore his exciting and unique world!
Because anything is possible in illustration, I create dreams, poetry, beauty and imagination. I also create to give meaning and convey a message.
Can you start by introducing yourself?
My name is Valentine, I'm 44 years old, and I'm a petite one: at 52 cm tall, I've never eaten soup off anyone's head, except maybe a child's. I'm a professional illustrator under the pseudonym "Mlle Valentine". I work as an illustrator under the pseudonym "Mlle Valentine", and art has always been part of my daily life. Born into a family of artists, I quickly discovered the pleasure of drawing. Today, I share my life with an urban artist, and it's not unusual for me to make friends with creative minds.
Can you tell us about your background?
After a Baccalauréat in applied arts, I studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts for 5 years.
When I finished my studies, I started giving Thesons for children and adults in a studio, and then became an applied arts teacher. I already had this desire to tell stories, in the form of triptychs, and it was only later, at the age of 32, that I imagined making illustration my profession.
At first, I worked very hard, illustrating my father's children's songs. Gradually, I was able to build up a more professional portfolio. I regularly travelled to Paris to meet publishers. I sent a lot of e-mails and only got a few replies, but I knew this was my path, so I kept going. Perseverance is the key! It was in December 2012 that everything accelerated. I was contacted by a writer and produced the illustrations for my first published book. At the same time, a Parisian illustrators' agency took me under its wing, and today I have regular clients.
Can you tell us about your business?
My work is above all a space of freedom, essential to my well-being. Because anything is possible in illustration, I create dreams, poetry, beauty and imagination. I also create to give meaning and get a message across.
What does it involve?
My main mission is to turn text into images, whether for a children's book, the cover of a novel, a magazine or an advertising poster. My work is divided into several phases. First of all, I may have to meet the customer to determine his or her needs. From this discussion, a set of specifications is drawn up, summarizing the customer's requirements and the various points to be respected to ensure that the final project meets their expectations. A delivery deadline is set, and I can begin the design phase. I always carry out preliminary research in the form of pencil sketches to illustrate the concept and define the composition of the illustration. Once these have been validated, I move on to the final drawing. The most important thing for me is that my customer is as satisfied as possible. That's why I like to offer several options, both in terms of sketches and colorization. This job requires creativity, a sense of imagination and aesthetics, a good pencil stroke, technical mastery of graphic design software and good listening skills. I think it's also very important to have a solid cultural background for illustration. It's the best way to differentiate yourself and find inspiration. As a freelancer, I also take care of a number of ancillary tasks: accounting, communication, prospecting...
What drew you to this line of work?
Ever since I was a petite, I've always imagined myself working in a creative field. Creating has always been a vital need for me. But I've always found it hard to accept a professional environment where there's a hierarchy. Being self-employed suits me completely, I work at my own pace and find it easier to overcome routine and broaden my field of expertise. The fact that I don't have a fixed salary is very motivating. The harder you work, the more you're rewarded.
How would you describe your world?
My illustrations often have a poetic, unusual and sometimes surreal tone. Humor, tenderness, slightly retro characters and carefully chosen colors also characterize my style.
What drives you in your job? What makes you tick?
What I love most about my work is imagining a universe, giving a particular atmosphere to a story. For the duration of a project, I find myself immersed in a parallel world that I create. It makes me happy, and when the project comes to an end, it's immensely satisfying.
You're passionate about children, and you're involved in occasional illustration workshops. Can you tell us about them?
I love connecting with children. They're spontaneous, free, curious, and have that precious spirit of wonder that we often lose as adults. It's this spirit that appeals to me. I've always worked with children, and for several years now I've been working as an illustrator in schools from petite to 6th grade, running book workshops. We imagine a story with the teachers and the children. They're bursting with ideas, which results in wacky, poetic and funny adventures. Afterwards, I step in to help them create the illustrations, select ideas and put them into shape. This experience gives them access to all the steps involved in the book production chain in a simplified way. More often than not, it's a joint project involving all the classes in the school and lasting several months.
Finally, a few questions to get to know you?
What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
I love art in all its forms, and for me, knowing how to show off with beautiful outfits is part of that. So, whenever I have time, I go shopping. On the other hand, I'm against over-consumption, so I prefer quality to quantity, and I choose the pieces in my dressing room with care so that I can wear them for a long time.
Your latest fashion crush?
A pale pink skirt.
Your everyday outfit?
As pants remain the bête noire of the petite woman, I'm often in a dress or skirt. This summer, I often wear the so-called "mid-calf skirt" (on me, it's more like a long skirt) with a tank top and flat sandals.
Your favorite Petite and So What piece?
I fell in love with the Laure dress, which was unfortunately Out of stock when I discovered the site, and the Reese top.
Your favorite illustration?
I don't really have a favorite illustration, but I'm interested in and appreciate the work of many illustrators and artists. Each universe is enriching. I have a soft spot for Marion Fayolle's work.
Any message you'd like to pass on to all the petites who'll be reading this?
The important thing is to accept each other with our particularities and differences that make us unique. I would also add, "If you can't do big things, do petites things with greatness."
Thank you very much Valentine!
